Services

Market traders may get new temporary home after all after council 'U-turn'

CONFUSED market traders may be offered a temporary base in Worcester after all – just one day after they were told there was nowhere for them to go.

In a seeming U-turn by Worcester City Council, a council official visited traders in Angel Place, Worcester, yesterday to discuss possible solutions to the market’s impending homelessness during a 13 week revamp.

Traders suggested at the meeting they be allowed to set up on a temporary basis in the High Street outside the Guildhall and into Pump Street and at the Cornmarket, either at the square or the car park.

A third less popular option involves splitting up the traders and having them at various locations around the city. However, the council has yet to confirm specifics and nothing is set in stone though traders have been told they will know more by Friday.

Stall-holders were told on Tuesday that the council had been unable to find anywhere for them to go during the £555,000 refurbishment, sparking shock and anger as reported on the front page in the Worcester News . The revamp is due to start on September 9.

The council visit was greeted cautiously by traders. It gives the 16 stall-holders new hope that a solution may be found. David Blake, service manager for economic development and planning policy, at the council said: “We have had a very constructive meeting with the market traders today.

“We went with them on a walkabout of the city centre to discuss possible sites where market trading could potentially be accommodated on a temporary basis.”

Bryan Crawford, who works on the pet stall for Paul Gardner, said: “They have been telling us for months they have been trying to find us somewhere.

Then with two weeks to go they say ‘sorry, we’re not finding you anywhere’ and now he’s come around and said we are going to try and find you somewhere. We feel we’re being messed around.”

Duncan Squires, 60, at the flower stall, said: “David Blake has spoken to the market traders to take on board any ideas they might have of where the market should be. A number of the traders made suggestions to him.

He’s now going back to the council. We were pleased they came to us. We have got to wait to see what is said”.

Ricki Sankey who works on the fruit stall and helps set up the tables for the market, said a third option to spread stall-holders out was a ‘last resort’ as traders were like a ‘family’.

Comments

absinthe
3:45pm Fri 22 Aug 14

Such a lovely place with bright young hard-working intelligent people flocking to the local traders. Why the need for any revamp? Angel Place has always reminded me of the cloisters at Cambridge, or is it Dawn of the Dead?

Such a lovely place with bright young hard-working intelligent people flocking to the local traders. Why the need for any revamp? Angel Place has always reminded me of the cloisters at Cambridge, or is it Dawn of the Dead?absinthe

Such a lovely place with bright young hard-working intelligent people flocking to the local traders. Why the need for any revamp? Angel Place has always reminded me of the cloisters at Cambridge, or is it Dawn of the Dead?

Score: -1

Argh!!
6:34pm Thu 21 Aug 14

“David Blake has spoken to the market traders to take on board any ideas they might have of where the market should be. A number of the traders made suggestions to him."

I bet they did!!!

“David Blake has spoken to the market traders to take on board any ideas they might have of where the market should be. A number of the traders made suggestions to him."
I bet they did!!!Argh!!

“David Blake has spoken to the market traders to take on board any ideas they might have of where the market should be. A number of the traders made suggestions to him."

I bet they did!!!

Score: 7

Arthur Blenkinsop
4:02pm Thu 21 Aug 14

as traders were like a ‘family’.

Is that 'faaaamly', like in Eastenders?

as traders were like a ‘family’.
Is that 'faaaamly', like in Eastenders?Arthur Blenkinsop

as traders were like a ‘family’.

Is that 'faaaamly', like in Eastenders?

Score: -1

Arthur Blenkinsop
4:03pm Thu 21 Aug 14

as traders were like a ‘family’.

Is that 'faaaaamly', like in Eastenders?

as traders were like a ‘family’.
Is that 'faaaaamly', like in Eastenders?Arthur Blenkinsop

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